Lionel Messi moved the football world after breaking into tears following his first goal in Argentina’s 3-0 opening win over Algeria at the 2026 World Cup. He then completed a hat trick, reaching 16 World Cup goals and drawing level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time top scorer.
Many assumed the tears came from the historic weight of the moment, but Messi said after the match that the reason was personal and unrelated to sport. “The truth is that it has nothing to do with sports. I have gone through some difficult and complicated days,” the Argentina captain said. “I thank all my teammates and the entire delegation who stood by me and gave me strength.”
Reports in Argentina said the difficult period is tied to the health of his father, Jorge Messi. Journalist Eduardo Feinman said Jorge has been dealing with a serious medical issue for months, with some worsening over the past week. Speaking on Radio Mitre, he said, “It is related to his father, whose health is not good. Since last year he has had a serious health problem, and in recent days there were developments that slightly worsened his condition. Messi is dealing with this internal struggle like any human being.”
According to those reports, Jorge Messi was hospitalized in January after a medical incident at home and underwent a series of cardiovascular and neurological tests. The family has kept the details private. Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, were in the stands and celebrated the star’s standout performance.
